Castles in Loire
Carte des Châteaux lists 203 castles, manor houses and fortified sites in Loire. 19 are reported as open to the public, at least in part. 14 are military sites: castles, fortresses, citadels or keeps. The towns with the most entries are L'Étrat (8), Feurs (6), Pouilly-sous-Charlieu (4) and Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert (4). Among the 81 dated entries, construction ranges from the 8th to the 21st century, peaking in the 16th.
Map of castles in Loire
At a glance
- 203
- castles listed
- 19
- open to visitors
- 14
- castles and fortified sites
- 23
- in the Mérimée heritage database
Must-see castles in Loire
The most complete entries for this area: verified documentation, photographs and visitor information.
Château de Vougy
1601
Château de Beauvoir
1780
Château des Cornes d'Urfé
XIIe siècle
Château de Bellegarde-en-Forez
1550
Château de Goutelas
1964
Château de la Bâtie d'Urfé
1200
More castles to visit in Loire
- Château de BouthéonAndrézieux-Bouthéon
- Château de Boën (Château de Chabert)Boën-sur-Lignon
- Château de Saint-Marcel-de-FélinesSaint-Marcel-de-Félines
- Château de Saint-Bonnet-les-OulesSaint-Bonnet-les-Oules
- Chartreuse de Sainte-Croix-en-JarezSainte-Croix-en-Jarez
- Château Sainte-AnneMarcilly-le-Châtel
Opening times change with the seasons: check each castle’s official website before you go.
Centuries of construction
Based on the 81 entries with a known construction date, out of 203.
The oldest dated castles in Loire
- Château de Grangent800 · Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert
- Château Sainte-Anne1010 · Marcilly-le-Châtel
- Château de Montrond1090 · Montrond-les-Bains
- Château de Rochetaillée1100 · Saint-Étienne
List of castles in Loire
203 sites shown
Château de la Roche
Château de Lupé
fin XIIe - début XIIIe siècle
Château de Contenson
1885
Château de Jarnosse
2019
Château d'Argental
Château de Vernay
Château des Cornes d'Urfé
XIIe siècle
Château de Chabert
1701
Château de la Bastie d'Urfé
Château de Gatellier
Château des comtes de Forez
Château Dorian
Château de Goutelas
1964
Château de Boisy
1401
Château de Montrenard
1301
15 / 203
Explore castles by territory
Search for a castle or a town, find it on the map, then open its entry: history, architecture, related people, visitor information and sources.
Castles by town
Other departments in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Frequently asked questions
How many castles are there in Loire?
Carte des Châteaux currently lists 203 castles, manor houses and fortified sites in Loire. The number grows as new entries are checked and published.
Which castles can you visit in Loire?
Entries reported as open to the public include Château de Beauvoir, Château de Bellegarde-en-Forez, Château de la Bâtie d'Urfé and Château de Bouthéon. Opening times and prices vary, so check each castle’s official website before visiting.
Are there medieval fortresses in Loire?
Yes: 14 entries are identified as a castle, fortress, citadel or keep, for example Château des Cornes d'Urfé, Château de Contenson and Château de Lupé.
What is the oldest dated castle in Loire?
Among the entries with a known construction date, Château de Grangent (800) is the oldest. Other sites without a precise date may be older.